Title: Section 6-2.20 - Aquatic supervisory skill requirements

Effective Date

6-2.20 Aquatic supervisory skill requirements. The New York State Department of Health is responsible for review of training courses and/or certification programs to determine acceptability.

(a) SUPERVISION LEVEL I - SURF LIFEGUARD

(1) The Supervision Level requirements for this level shall take effect May 15, 1994.

(2) No person shall be qualified under this subdivision unless such person:

(i) has a minimum age of 16 years; and

(ii) possesses a current A.R.C. Basic Life Support for the Professional Rescuer C.P.R. or equivalent certification; the certification period must not exceed one year; and

(iii) has a minimum of 20 hours (24 hours if first aid skills are included) of training acceptable to the Commissioner covering those items set forth in this subdivision (stated time periods do not include final examination time or conditioning swims). Such training and ocean testing must be satisfactorily completed prior to assignment at ocean front and the certification period of training and testing must not exceed three years.

The training course and recertification program will be determined to be acceptable if, after a review, all the materials submitted by the program sponsor are determined to be complete and substantially meet the requirements of this section. Instructors shall have sufficient experience and knowledge in lifeguarding to effectively communicate the subject matter required by this section.

(a) Lifeguard Orientation:

(1) Program Goals and Objectives;

(2) Chain of Command;

(3) Introduction to Job of a Lifeguard;

(4) Introduction to Lifesaving Equipment and Facilities;

(b) Preventive Lifeguarding:

(1) Rules and Regulations;

(2) Victim Recognition;

(i) Distressed Situation;

(ii) Drowning Situation (active vs. passive);

(3) Bather Supervision:

(i) Areas of Responsibility;

(ii) Visual Surveillance;

(iii) Lifeguard Stations;

(iv) Lifeguard Rotation and Relief;

(4) Causes of Incidents/Injuries;

(5) Recognition of Hazards;

(c) Environmental Hazards;

(d) Communications:

(1) Basic Systems:

(i) Between Guards;

(ii) Whistle System;

(iii) Radio/Phone, If Applicable;

(iv) Flag System For Informing of Water Conditions, If Applicable;

(2) Emergency Procedures:

(i) Emergency Action Plans;

(ii) Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Response;

(3) Public Communication:

(i) Warnings;

(ii) Dangerous Conditions;

(iii) Lost Person;

(e) Rescue Techniques and Procedures:

(1) Victim Detection/Recognition;

(2) Front and Back Escapes (Front Head Hold, Rear Head Hold Escapes, Blocks);

(3) Rescues With Equipment (Buoys, Tubes, Rescue Boards);

(4) Rescues Without Equipment;

(5) Multiple Rescues;

(6) Lost Bather Drill/Plan/Practice (Surface Dive in Nine Feet of Water and Retrieve Object From Bottom);

(7) Removal From Water;

(i) Carries;

(ii) Care of Back and Neck Injuries;

(f) First Aid and Emergency Care (possession of a valid American Red Cross Standard First Aid or Equivalent Certification may be substituted for this segment.)

(1) Bleeding and Shock

(2) Choking

(3) Temperature Extremes

(4) Spinal Injuries (Management in Aquatic Environment)

(5) Diabetic Emergencies

(6) Seizures

(7) Heart Attacks and Strokes

(8) Fractures, Dislocation, Sprains and Strains

(9) Burns

(10) Eye and Nose Injuries

(11) Alcohol and Drug Overdoses

(g) Records and Reports

(iv) Such person must:

(a) Correctly Answer at Least 80 percent of the questions in a written and/or oral test on Theory and Knowledge; and

(b) Successfully perform/demonstrate all skills; this evaluation may be based upon observance of such person throughout the training program, and complete a 50 Yard Crawl in 35 Seconds or Less (unless the individual possesses Level II certification); and

(c) Such person must complete a skills test to be conducted in the ocean, consisting of:

(1) A 300 Yard Crawl endurance swim; and

(2) A 50 yard swim to victim, carrying needed equipment, followed by a carry to shore and removal of victim from water.

(b) SUPERVISION LEVEL IIb - POOL & BEACH LIFEGUARD

(1) The requirements of this Subdivision shall take effect on May 15, 1993

(2) No person shall be qualified under this Subdivision unless such person:

(i) Has a Minimum Age of 16 years (15 years is acceptable if a supervisory lifeguard is present); and

(ii) Has a Current A.R.C Basic Life Support for the Professional Rescuer, CPR or equivalent certification; the certification period shall not exceed one year; and

(iii) Demonstrates a current ability to swim 300 yards non-stop using various strokes in good form; and surface dive to minimum 9 foot depth and bring a 10 lb. object to surface; and tread water for one minute; and

(iv) Possesses a current certification from a recognized certifying agency acceptable to the State Health Commissioner or has within not more than a consecutive three year period of time, completed a minimum of 20 hours (24 hours if first aid skills are included) of training acceptable to the Commissioner covering those items outlined below (Time periods do not include final examination time or conditioning swims):

The training course and recertification program will be determined to be acceptable if, after a review, all the materials submitted by the program sponsor are determined to be complete and substantially meet the requirements of this section. Instructors shall have sufficient experience and knowledge in lifeguarding to effectively communicate the subject matter required by this section.

(viii) Tread water for one minute holding a diving brick with both hands.

(c) SUPERVISION LEVEL III

(1) The requirements of this Subdivision shall take effect on May 15, 1993.

(2) No person shall be qualified under this Subdivision unless such person:

(i) Has a Minimum Age of 18 years; and

(ii) Possesses a Current ARC Community C.P.R. or Equivalent Certification; the certification period must not exceed one year; and

(iii) Is competent to:

(a) Understand and apply the Rules and Regulations of this part and implement the safety plan, and (b) Evaluate Environmental Hazards; and

(c) Use Lifesaving Equipment and Facility; and

(d) Undertake Bather/Crowd Control.

(d) SUPERVISION LEVEL IV

(1) The requirements of this Subdivision shall take effect on May 15, 1993.

(2) No person shall be qualified under this Subdivision unless such person:

(i) Is at least 18 years of age; and

(ii) Possesses a Current ARC Community C.P.R. or equivalent certification.

(e) Lifeguard Supervision and Management

(1) No person shall be qualified under this subdivision unless such person:

(i) Possesses current certification issued by a certifying agency determined by the State Department of Health to provide an adequate level of training in lifeguard supervision and management covering those items set forth below. Certification shall be valid for the time period specified by the certifying agency, but may not exceed a consecutive three-year period from course completion.

The training course will be determined to be acceptable if, after a review, all the materials submitted by the program sponsor are determined to be complete and meet the requirements of this section. Instructors shall have sufficient experience and knowledge in lifeguard supervision and management to effectively communicate the subject matter required by this section:

(a) Program Goals and Objectives

(b) Lifeguard and Lifeguard Supervisor Duties and Responsibilities

(c) Injury Prevention and Preventative Lifeguarding

(1) Communication Systems

(2) Patron Surveillance

(i) Victim Recognition

(ii) Effective Scanning

(iii) Lifeguard Positioning and Rotation

(iv) Lifeguard Breaks

(3) Surveillance for Groups

(i) Instruction Programs

(ii) Large Groups and Children's Camps

(a) Coordinating Large Groups and Pre-arrangements

(b) Buddy and Board Systems

(c) Swimming Ability Assessment

(d) Swimming Area Selection

(iii) Competitive Events

(4) Facility Operation and Management

(i) Safety Equipment

(ii) Hazards

(iii) Weather Conditions

(d) Types of Emergencies and Emergency Action Plans (EAP)

(e) Lifeguard Preparedness

(1) Staff Orientation and Training

(2) In-service Training

(f) Risk Management

(ii) Such person must correctly answer at least 80 percent of the questions on a written and/or oral test on theory and knowledge.